Hobbes and power

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) was a 17th century thinker who sought to apply the
new methods of science and the Greek rigor of logic to sociology. In his
1660 masterwork, 'Leviathan', he describes power and promotes the notion of a
commonwealth as an effective society.

Naturall Power

Hobbes defined power as the ability to secure well-being or personal
advantage 'to obtain some future apparent Good'. He saw people as having 'Naturall
Power' that come from internal qualities such as intellectual eloquence,
physical strength and prudence.

Instrumentall Power

He also noted that we have 'Instrumentall Power' which has the sole purpose
of acquiring more power. This includes wealth, reputation and influential
friends.

He thus saw the quest for power as the quest for command over the power of
others. If I can get you to use your power on behalf of my purpose, then I can
add your power to my arsenal. In its most simple form, we buy the compliance of
others.

'The value or worth of a man is, as of all other things, his
Price; that is to say, so much as would be given for the use of his Power.

Relative power

Hobbes noted that power is relative only to the power of others. If I have
less power than you, then I am effectively powerless in your presence. This
leads us to a perpetual power struggle with other people, each vying for ever
greater power and each seeking to acquire the power of others.

He also noticed that there are some people who can never get enough power,
and who seek to use others rather than cooperate and live in harmony with them.
This he considered a dysfunction.

Ceding power

Hobbes found that many of us find a balance in life and gaining 'sufficient
power' is adequate for us. We also seek to co-operate and share power with
others to escape from an endless escalation.

'that a man be willing when others are so too, as farre-forth
as for Peace and defence of himselfe he shall think it necessary, to lay down
the right to all things; and be contented with so much liberty against other
men, as he would allow other men against himselfe.'

He considered the most effective use of personal power in society is to cede
it to a central authority who can use this power without question back on the
people who give the power. This effectively leads to an elected monarch and
commonwealth, which Hobbes called the 'Leviathan'.

The Leviathan, by the way, is monstrous and fearsome sea creature in the book
of Job. Going against the Leviathan was an act of great peril.

So what?

Manage your power and find your balance. Build it. Lean on the power of
others. Share it where appropriate. And help to build an effective democracy
where power is used for the common good.